LESSONS OF TUNISIA

Grey River Argus, 20 May 1943, Page 5

LESSONS OF TUNISIA

Difficulties Faced by

Allies

8.0.W. RUGBY, May 18. Details are gradually coming to hand of the difficulties which were faced by the Allied forces in what a correspondent calls the “European war school of Tunisia,” and of how they victoriously overcame them. The troops- who landed in Eastern Algeria in November were weaker than was generally supposed They had to hold about 50 miles of mountain country with hardly any air protection, and the operations were handicapped by the rainsoaked ground. Operations had to be undertaken with sufficient strength against an enemy who could reinforce more easily, and the results were often unsatisfactory. Much valuable tank experience was obtained. The armour of both sides suffered through the bogged ground. In the Christmas attack on Longstop Hill, a British tank division narrowly avoided being disastrously bogged, and when the Germans attacked down the narrow, valley from Mateur towards Beja, in March, their tanks could not leave the' road and consequently were slaughtered by our gunners, and the enemy suffered a crippling blow. Much was learnt about hill fighting against an enemy who masters that branch of warfare. When the Allies recovered Sedjenane Valley at the end of March they won back in five days hilly country which the Germans had not long before taken in three weeks of the bitterest fighting. • In their final model offensive the Allies chose one vital objective and struck with all their strength instead of dissipating their forces. The Allied forces had by then been grounded nationally to obviate difficulties due to differences of tradition, method, and ‘language. The smallest national unit became a corps so that co-operation was strategic rather than tactical. Despatches state that the Americans, who had the most to learn, learned astonishingly quick. An account of the Fondouk breakthrough by the Sixth Armoured Divisions reveals that, foresaking their usual precautions, owing to the necessity for speed, about 30 tanks rushed a minefield in a g a P between the hills, the exploding mines letting the rest of the tanks through. All thirty had their tracks destroyed, but two-thirds were running again in a few days. The differences beween the early disappointments and the triumphant conclusion was most marked. The apparent stalejnate continued for many months, when it looked as if every hillock and rise of ground all the way to Tunis would cause a slow, bloody fight. With adequate resources accumulated, however, and the long supply route organised, the Army was able to throw against the defences the most concentrated power of tanks, guns, shells, infantry, and bombs ever used on so narrow a front.

Axis Prisoners

MORE THAN 200,000 TAKEN. (Rec. 8.55) LONDON, May 19. The total of Axis prisoners captured in Tunisia is well over two hundred thousand, according to an announcement by General Eisenhower at the Allied Headquarters in north Africa. FRENCH AFRICAN RULE. 8.0.W. RUGBY, May 18. Mr Attlee, in the Commons, said French' North Africa was at present administered by the French Civil and Military High Command under General Giraud at Algiers, subject to certain powers which the Allied Commander-in-Chief possessed in virtue of the arrangement concluded with the local French authorities at the time of the Allied landings. Any alteration in the arrangements would presumably be a matter for discussion between the parties concerned. General de Gaulle was not yet associated with the French High Command in North Africa. A resolution of gratitude for the African victory expressed in similar terms to the one presented in the House of Commons by Mr Attlee, was moved in the House of Lords by Lord Cranborne.

ADMIRAL ESTEVA. LONDON, May 18. The Vichy radio announced that Admiral Esteva arrived at Vichy from Paris accompanied by M. de Brinon, and Ramm, who was German Minister at Paris. Admiral Esteva was received with military honours. He held a long conference with Marshal Petain and M. Laval.